Natarajan should aim to play for India for the next 5 or 7 years: Irfan Pathan

Every time India has gone to Australia, the team has found a new pacer in the ranks to come up and take responsibility for the side. Back during the Australian tour of 2003-04, India found Irfan Pathan stepping up and he went on to become a successful bowler for India in the times to come. During the recently concluded tour, India found another good left-arm pacer in T Natarajan. 

During a recent interaction, Irfan Pathan talked about Natarajan and expressed his advice to the fast bowler. Natarajan, who was not supposed to be on this tour initially, was only given a chance in the T20I team after Varun Chakravarthy got ruled out due to an injury. He was taken as a back-up bowler in the ODIs and ended up making his debut in the final ODI.

After this, he played the three T20Is. But, his surprising entry to the Test team was impressive. He picked up three wickets in the Brisbane Test. He was not selected in the Test squad for the home Tests against England, which is an indication that he might not be looked like a long-time option in Tests. 

Natarajan must focus on his fitness: Irfan Pathan

However, Pathan was of the opinion that the pacer has to work a lot harder for playing in Tests. He explained that he has an advantage as he has a repetitive action. He gave a piece of advice to the pacer for becoming a better Test bowler. 

“He (T Natarajan) has to do a lot in Tests, work on his angle and rhythm. The good thing about him is that he has got repetitive action. But he will need to bring his body more behind his delivery at the time of release, as that will help him bring the ball into a batsman,” Irfan was quoted saying by TOI. 

Pathan also said that Natarajan should aim to play for India for five or seven years. He also said that he has to concentrate on fitness. “His (T Natarajan’s) initial aim should now be on playing for the country for the next five-seven years, and for that, he must focus on his fitness. He should continue doing what he has in his armour and slowly learn more while playing. I am sure the team management will also work with him to make him a better product,” Irfan Pathan added.